SciTechConnect
Homeland Security Digital Library
Welcome to our Newest Federal Database!
Library of Congress Digital Archive
Access online collections: view maps & photographs; read letters, diaries & newspapers; hear personal accounts of events; listen to sound recordings & watch historic films.
USGS National Geological Map Database
Strategies for Using GovDocs for OER
- General searches at USA.gov
- Try one of the 4 National Libraries
- Narrow down to specific Agencies.
- ex. USDA v. National Ag Library v. USDA Economic Research Service
- Some agencies aren't .gov ex. si.edu, hsdl.org
Federal Documents: USA.gov
As the U.S. government's official web portal, USA.gov makes it easy for the public to get U.S. government information and services on the web.
Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides Congress with nonpartisan analysis for economic and budget decisions and with estimates required for the Congressional budget process.
Congressional Research Service Reports
Congressional Research Service is the U.S. Congressional think tank which produces reports on any topic under consideration by Congress. These reports are:
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Hard to obtain. They are not made available to members of the public by CRS, except in certain circumstances.
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Objective reports produced for committees in congress to analyze issues.
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Widely regarded as in depth, accurate, objective, and timely.
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Excellent resources for legislative or public policy research.
Finding CRS Reports
There are a variety of institutions, organizations and websites that are publishing CRS Reports. Try the links listed below.
- EveryCRSreport.com"We’re publishing reports by Congress’s think tank, the Congressional Research Service, which provides valuable insight and non-partisan analysis of issues of public debate. These reports are already available to the well-connected — we’re making them available to everyone for free."
Government Accountability Office Reports
The GAO is a government agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the United States Congress. The are the "Watch Dog" of federal government. GAO reports are:
- Easily available
- Objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, nonideological, fair, and balanced
- Tend to be longer, more indepth and more critical than CRS reports.
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Full of useful charts and statistics.
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Might be one particular aspect of a policy/law.
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Makes a recommendation regarding the policy.
GAO Search
